When she looked back up at me, her gaze flickered between my eyes. “Yes,” she said.
When I thought just seeing her would be enough, I had been a naive buffoon. It would never be enough to just be near her. But that was all I had for now and I would take it. A few days and then back to reality. I wouldn’t waste any more time.
Of all people, Agata’s menacing glare popped into my head at that moment.You woo?As RC, I had lost my chance with Kate when I wouldn’t agree to a video call. I wouldn’t make that same mistake again. But I wanted her to know me a little better. The version of me that existed outside the computer or the media’s lens. I was just a man who was falling for her. A man who couldn’t stop his feelings from growing exponentially with every moment spent together.
I told her, well,RCtold her, that she should explore her feelings for this other person. There wouldn’t be any doubt how I felt about her. I would reveal who I was.Again? But for now, I would woo her.
“Last night, you said your heart belonged to someone else.” I swallowed and found my throat so tight I wasn’t confident I could get the rest of the words out. “But I was wondering if maybe you’d like to get dinner tonight? As a date,” I clarified. “I really like getting to know you, Kate Dubois.”
Her jaw fell open. She blinked and her mouth snapped shut. After an eternity that lasted probably only two seconds, something shifted behind her gaze. A slow smile curled her lips. “I’ll have my people call your people and we’ll set something up.”
I threw my head back and laughed. My Kate. Always keeping me on my toes. I lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed her knuckles.
* * *
Kate
I was holdingCharlie Downing’s hand. I asked RC if I should explore my feelings with another person and he told me to go for it. If RC wasn’t Charlie, then I once and for all knew that RC was not romantically interested in me. And for the first time, the thought didn’t crush my chest.
“So—” I hesitated. “What happens when we get to the studio?”
I squeezed our joined hands and raised them slightly in question. He took it as an opportunity to kiss my knuckles again. Thank goodness I was sitting down because the tingle at the back of my knees would have made me collapse.
He let out a long breath. “We do the bit. Or whatever it is they want us to. Then we have dinner.” He ran his thumb back and forth over my overly sensitive skin. “This.” He cleared his throat. “Means more to me than … If people see, they will find a way to ruin it. I don’t want it to be tainted. Let’s keep this”—his hand squeezed mine—“for us. For now,” he added.
I understood. I was a little relieved to have the decision made but also disappointed about more secrecy. I wasn’t ashamed to walk in hand in hand with him. Obviously. But his request was probably for the best. I had just been with somebody else, and I was there for my writing. I didn’t care what strangers thought, but I didn’t want this new/old friendship with Charlie to get spoiled before it began.
“I understand,” I said. I leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
I went to pull away, but he didn’t let me. One strong hand held my neck, fingers tangled in my short hair, stopping my retreat.
“Kate,” he said. His mouth hovered just in front of me.
“Charlie.” I mimicked. Since we were hovering inches apart, saying each other’s names.
I heard his swallow and watched as his eyes squinted in humor. “I’m very much looking forward to our date tonight.”
What did that mean? What would our evening look like? And where would we go from there?
No. I wouldn’t worry or obsess or come up with fantastical realities. Charlie was here now. He was looking at me. He brushed his thumb over my cheek and yet it warmed my entire body.
“Me too,” I said, a little breathy.
The town car pulled through security and into the lot.
“We don’t have to do any more filming. Ever been to Mexico?” He scrubbed a hand over his short-cropped hair, his knee tapping wildly as we got closer to set.
I laughed. “Charlie. We can’t quit now,” I said.
He grunted.
“I think it sounds fun,” I said. I raised an eyebrow at him. The soft flirty look melted from his face, and the mask I’d seen him wear in so many interviews was back into place. I hated seeing him shut down just to get through an event he hadn’t wanted to be at. “Call me crazy, but it sounds like maybe you don’t want to do it,” I asked gently. “On account of the sudden interest in Mexico?”
“Canada sounds good too.”
“Charlie?” I probed.
He groaned and, to my utter shock, pulled me onto his lap and buried his face in my neck.
